DENVER -- It was like a split-squad scrimmage at Pepsi Center on Saturday afternoon. The first team dominated the second team early, as expected and then the second team rallied in a gallant effort to garner respect in front of family and friends.

In the end, the first team was the better team all along, as expected, and the Minnesota Wild easily stamped its home-and-home series sweep over the Avalanche with a 6-4 victory at the Pepsi Center.

The Wild, which beat Colorado 5-3 on Thursday in St. Paul, Minn., got two goals and an assist from Devin Setoguchi and Pierre-Marc Bouchard had a hand in their final two goals after the Avs got to within 4-3 midway through the game.

Minnesota generated only 28 shots but the majority of them were either of the grade-A or lucky variety.

Bottom line: "Our defense, as a team -- not only our defensemen but our forwards as well -- is not where it needs to be," Avs forward P.A. Parenteau said. "And we're not going to win many games if we don't tie it up here."

Minnesota built first-period leads of 3-0 and 4-1 in proving it is a playoff contender and the Avs belong in the cellar of the 15-team Western Conference. Ryan Suter (power play), Setoguchi and Cal Clutterbuck scored within a five-minute span after Colorado came out strong but failed to convert on the game's first power play.

Advertisement

"Seems like they got a couple of good bounces early. Couple of their goals were kind of lucky plays at the start," said Avs center Ryan O'Reilly, who produced a game-high five shots.

"I don't think we played that bad for the most part. Obviously we had a couple mental lapses, but we came to compete (today) and obviously it didn't go our way."

Goalie Jean-Sebastien Giguere, making his first start at home this season and just fifth overall, allowed four goals on 14 shots in the Wild's big first period and was replaced by Semyon Varlamov to begin the second. Varlamov was either similarly unlucky or not very good.

"Falling behind like that, it's not the recipe for success, obviously. I don't know what's going on," said Parenteau, who scored the Avs' second goal and played well in 22:54. "I don't why we're allowing three (or more) goals in the first period. It's something that needs to be addressed, there's no doubt about it. But I don't have the answer. I hope we can find it as a group sooner than later."

The Avs fell to 8-4-1 at home, where they have lost two in a row. Colorado is now on a three-game losing streak since it posted impressive wins over Chicago and San Jose.

"We need some wins. We need some guys to have some big games. It's disappointing, no doubt," Giguere said. "We have to play better defensively and take care of our end."

Avs captain Gabe Landeskog, who scored a goal five seconds after a Minnesota power-play expired to trim the Wild's lead to 4-3, said: "When you're working hard and trying to focus on details the big picture is going to fall in place."

MacIntyre feels Colorado is capable of making run at bowl gameCU BUFFS FALL CAMPWhen: 29 practices beginning Wednesday morning 8:30-11 a.m. Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday practices are open to the media and public next week. Full Story

MacIntyre feels Colorado is capable of making run at bowl gameCU BUFFS FALL CAMPWhen: 29 practices beginning Wednesday morning 8:30-11 a.m. Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday practices are open to the media and public next week. Full Story

It didn't take long for Denver music observers to notice Plume Varia. Husband and wife Shon and Cherie Cobbs formed the band only two years ago, but after about a year they started finding themselves on best-of lists and playing the scene's top venues. Full Story